This 1,001sqft HDB flat was designed around a life lived in Japan. The homeowners, a couple with a deep love for Japanese culture, fashion, and tattoos, brought their three cats to Kenny Yeo, Senior Designer at Local Inn.terior, with a clear vision. They wanted a space that balances calm, minimalist elements with bold character and unique touches inspired by their passions.
Turning Structural Hurdles into Features
When a structural beam interrupted the run of full-height cabinets in the foyer, Kenny didn’t see a problem. He turned it into an asset, using it to define and separate the entrance from the living room. Wood-look panels line the ceiling of the foyer, drawing a warm boundary between the two zones. The homeowners chose not to opt for the HDB Optional Component Scheme, which gave Kenny full flexibility to curate and customise every finish from scratch.
Instead of filling the space with heavy carpentry, the couple prioritised openness and loose furniture. They brought the dining table and console from their previous home, grounding the space with familiarity. Two paper pendant lights inspired by the Japanese chōchin lantern cast a soft, enveloping warmth across the room. Matte homogeneous tiles run consistently through the communal zones, but green makes its first appearance simply because the couple wanted it.
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The green painted feature wall settles into the space as a rich, grounded backdrop. It draws out the warmth of the wood tones around it while Yayoi Kusama pieces on the wall bring an extra layer of colour and personality. “The consistent green tones throughout the space serve as the defining design feature that ties everything together,” said Kenny. It brings warmth, depth, and a sense of tranquility while subtly reflecting the homeowners’ personality.
Green Tones in the Kitchen and Bath
Continuing the warm palette is the open-concept kitchen. Quartz countertops from iQuartz and the subway tile backsplash from Hafary keep things cohesive. Underfoot, mosaic tiles from Hup Kiong introduce a subtle textural shift that distinguishes the kitchen from the rest of the communal area. LED strip lighting underneath the overhead cabinets serves as both task lighting and a way to highlight the finishes.
Installing a small ceiling fan in the kitchen was a practical request from the homeowners, who spend a lot of time cooking. They wanted better air circulation to manage humidity and steam. It is a small detail, but one that makes daily cooking noticeably more comfortable. To support more amenities, the wall between the master and common bedrooms was hacked to create a combined space.
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This combined area now holds a wardrobe, a study and gaming area, and the bed. A cast concrete divider separates the sleeping area from the work zone, maintaining the material language of the home while creating a clear spatial distinction. Behind the study, a sliding wardrobe keeps storage efficient and the layout uncluttered. The custom desk setup accommodates both work and gaming without compromising the bedroom environment.
The bathrooms are where the green palette makes its most confident statement. Overlaid tiles from Soon Bee Huat and Hafary cover the walls and floor in the common bathroom. The vanity countertop is raw cast concrete finished in epoxy for durability. The master bathroom’s wet zone is the boldest move in the home. Moss green subway tiles are paired with red grout, a combination that pulls it off with ease. “Since green is their favourite colour, it felt personal, while the red grout adds warmth and highlights the tile pattern in a playful, unexpected way,” said Kenny.